We invite you to take a peek inside our weekly Light for the Way devotional series provided for staff.
By Pastor Chris Wheatley, PHS Senior Director of Pastoral Care Services
“The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a disciple, that I may sustain the weary with a word.” —Isaiah 50:4a
Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) needs the unique gifts of every person who joins us and every role we incorporate. We would not be able to operate without servers, aides, nurses, administrators, engineers and dozens of other roles filled by people who contribute something essential every day. I constantly find myself proclaiming the priesthood of all believers and encouraging PHS communities to allow Christian ministry to be expressed by anyone, not just the campus pastors.
That said, there is a special place in my heart for our pastors, those men and women that we call specifically to have Christ as their focus at all times. They are there to have conversations about eternal hope and God’s grace when needed most, and to proclaim the saving truth about Jesus in ways that can be understood by all who hear. The best part of my week is being able to make a visit to a pastor and watch a unique ministry unfold, a personalized version of Divine love played out among older adults and those who care for them.
Which is why I am so excited that we are continuing to develop our Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. PHS is looking to help in the education of pastors seeking to become chaplains, seminarians seeking to become pastors, and people who want to explore whether God might be calling them to pastoral ministry in the first place.
Which leads me to three requests. First, if your campus takes on some CPE interns soon, please be welcoming, gracious and generous with them. Share what you do and why you do it. Support them as they learn. Let them learn to lead. Second, if you know anybody who would be interested in CPE at PHS, please send them our way at preshomes.org/cpe. Third, please pray for the CPE program and all the lives it has the potential to touch. Only with God’s grace and your support will this be what the Kingdom needs.
Rev. Chris Wheatley serves PHS as Senior Director of Pastoral Care Services. He is an ordained Lutheran pastor and has served in hospice, eldercare, hospital, HIV/AIDS and congregational settings. He and his wife Nicole are perpetually outnumbered by cats and Dobermans.
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian Ministry.
